Nursing unit



Feb. 13, 1951 1 T. E. PIAZZE 2,541,934

NURSING UNIT Filed Dec. 21, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H 1 fir l3 INVENTOR. ffi'onmlfiajya MMMW T. E. PIAZZE NURSING UNIT Feb. 13, 1951 2 Shets-She't -2 Filed Dec. '21. 1948' IN VEN TOR.

iatented Feb. 13, i951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 2,541,934 V v NURSING onrr I Thomas E. Piazze', Mount Vernon, Ohio, assignorto Shellmar Products Corporation Chicago, 111;; a corporationof Delaware Applicationflecember 21, 1948; Serial No. 66,553

This invention relates to improvements in a nursing unit of the type which comprises a nursingnipple, a disposable container member and means for detachably securing the container member in communicating relation with the nipple.

ltisan object of theinvention to provide a nursing unit which is characterized by a nursin nipple combined with a flexible disposable container and a pair'of cooperating ring members for attaching the mouth of the container to the top margins of the flexible container folded out-- wardly over the same, and the outer attachin ring being adapted to clamp the beaded flange on the nipple in container securing relation against the bottom side of the to flange on the inner attaching ring.

A more specific object or the invention is to provide a nursing unit comprising a nipple-having a radially extending base fiangeterminating in-a peripheral bead, a flexible disposable container, an inner clamping ring having an out-- wardly directed. top flange, the diameter of the outer edge of which is less than the diameter of the inner edge of the bead on the nipple, and anouter clamping ringhaving an internal diameter less than the diameter of the external edge of the head on the nipple: and provided with an inwardly directed top flange having a greater internal diameter than the external diameter of the flange on the inner ring whereby the mar ginal portions of the mouth of the container may be folded outwardly around the flanged top of the inner ring and clamped in position thereon byplacing thereover the beaded flange on the nipple and contracting the same b moving the outer ring downwardly into encompassing relation relative to the inner ring.

These and other objects o'f the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the nursing unit which is shown by way -of illustration in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

nFig, 1 is an elevation of .a nursing unitin 8-Claims. (01.215 41) dSSlhbld conditionwhich embodies the Illihi ples ofthe invention; l

Fig-2 is a top plan view of the nursing unit:

Fig. 3 is an explodedelevation of the separateparts which constitute the nursingunit;

Figs.- 4,-5' and 6 are-partial vertical sections illustrating the method of assembling the unit with the aid of a stand or support for the inner ring member;--and 1 Figs 7 is a partial vertical section tcan on larged scale, taken on the lines 'L-l of Fig.1; and showing the unit in completely assembled condition v v V The nursingunit which is illustrated in the drawings incorporates theprinciples of the ih' vention, and: is characterized by a flexible dispcsable container or bottle member in, a nurs ing nipple H and cooperating inner and outer connecting and clamping ring members .12 and" I3, respectively. .1

The container or bottle member 10 consists of a length of tubular material which. is flexible" and which may :be formed of any suitable sheet or film-like material, such as polyethylene, Plio film, or similar material. closed by a transverse seal M at one. end. and? open at the other end 15.- It is formed with a diameter which will permit the margins at the. top I5 to bev .folded outwardly over and downaround the outsidewof the rigid inner. attaching ring L2. The container l0 may be furnishedxtoi the'user in any convenient form. Preferably the containers are provided in rolls which comprise: a predetermined length of flattened, sterilized tube transverselysealed at spaced intervals to provide a plurality of the containers or bottles H) which may be out. one at a tlmefromthe end: of the roll. 2

The nursing nipple II, which is formed of:- rubber-like material, is preferably of the wide base type and is provided with an integral, rela-" tively narrow, radially outwardlyextending flange: portion I6 which terminates in a peripheral bead; po t o The inner attaching. ring or band I2 is formed: of rigid material, preferably metal, and comprises a relatively short tubular section or body portion l8 having a radially outwardly extending top? flange I9 which isxof slightly less: diameter than; the internal diameter of the peripheral-.bead portion Hon the nipple ll. v 1 The outer locking ring 13 comprises a tnbe like bodyiportion 20 terminating at the top in-a relatively :narrow inwardly directed flange 2 L? The-body portion 20 may be straight on its inner The container in is" surface 22 or provided with a slight taper in the downward and outward direction. The body portion 20 terminates at its lower edge in a section 23 which is substantially tapered in the outward direction. The internal diameter at the bottom edge 24 is slightly greater than the external diameter of the peripheral bead portion H on the nipple H. The internal diameter of the body portion 20 is substantially less than the external diameter of the bead IT. The internal diameter of the top flange 2I on the ring member I3 is approximately the same as the internal diameter of the bead I"! on the nipple I I.

In assemblying the nursing unit a stand or supporting member is preferably provided as indicated at 25 (Fig. 4) The stand 25 is provided with an upwardly directed flange 26 which is arranged about an aperture 21 in the stand to provide a recess or shoulder 28 for receiving the bottom portion of the inner ring member I2. The top flange I9 of the inner rin member I2 is positioned a substantial distance above the flange 26 when the ring I2 is located on the stand 25. The flexible container I is opened and positioned with its top margins I5 folded outwardly and downwardly over the flange I9 of the inner ring member I2 in any convenient manner such as by means of an expanding and holding device or tool of the general type illustrated in the copending application of Teague et a1., Serial No. 41,554, filed July 30, 1948.

. With the top margins I5 of the container I0 folded outwardly and downwardly over the inner ring member I2 (Fig. 4) the container III is filled with a nursin fluid and the nipple II is positioned with the bottom flange I6 overlying the top flange I9 of the inner ring member I2. The lower portion of the bead H which extends below the flange I6 on the nipple II facilitates assembly of the nipple and the inner ring member I2, thev top of the member I2 being received within the confines of the bead I1 and the nipple II being readily assembled in properly centered relation to the member I2 with the flange I6 of the nipple resting on the top of member I2. Thereafter theouter. ring member I3 is moved downwardly in encircling relation to the inner ring member I2. 7 The peripheral bead I! on the nipple II is contracted and the flange I6'of the nipple II is stretched down and around the top flange I9 of therinner ring member I2 by the downward movement of the ring member I3. The ring member I3 is moved downwardly until its bottom edge 24 is engaged with the top surface 29 (Fig. 6) of the supporting member 25 which limits the downward movement of the same relative to the inner ring member I 2. When the outer ring member I3 is at the downward limit of its movement the bead I! on the nipple II is positioned slightly below the bottom of flange I9 on the inner ring member I3. When the outer ring member I3 is then released the resiliency of the bead I1 and the flange I6 causes member I3 to move upwardly a short distance from the top surface 29 of the supportin frame 25. The bead II moves upwardly with the ring member I3 into close engagement with the bottom edge of the flange I9 on the inner ring thereby clamping the container margins I5 against the flange I9.

- With the members assembled as illustrated in Figs. 1 and '7, any axial force exertedbetween the'container III and the nipple II tends to draw the bead I I and the stretched flange I6 into closer contact withthe lower and outer surfaces of the lange I9 on the inner ring member I2 and to more tightly clamp the margins I5 of the container I0 between the members.

The unit is readily disassembled by placing one side of the bottom edge 24 of the outer ring member I3 on a surface or abutment with the unit held at an angle thereto and by applying pressure with the thumb or fingers against the opposite portion of the top flange I9 of the inner ring member I2 while at the same time holding the outer ring member I3 against downward movement at that side of the unit until the ring member I2 has been moved downwardly past the bead IT at that side of the unit.

While previous nursing units of a similar type were subject to failure at the seal when used with an oversize container which produced wrinkles at the top, in the present device the use of slightly oversize containers does not result in leakage because of the resiliency of the rubber bead I! under compression which maintains the seal even though there are substantial wrinkles in the container material.

While specific materials and details of construction have been described and shown in illustrating the invention, it will be understood that other materials and other details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A nursing unit comprising a flexible disposable receptacle, a nursing nipple having a relatively narrow bottom flange extending radially outwardly and terminating in a peripheral bead, a rigid inner connecting ring member having a tubular body portion and a relatively narrow radially outwardly directed top flange, and an outer connecting ring member having a tubular body portion and a radially inwardly directed top;

flange, said outer ring member being of lesser, inside diameter than the outside diameter of the bead on said nipple flange and when the unit v 2. A nursing unit comprising a flexible dispose" able receptacle, a nursing nipple of stretchable. material having a relatively narrow bottom flange. extending radially outwardly and terminating in a peripheral bead, a rigid inner connecting ring member comprising a tube-like section and an outwardly directed top flange, and an outer connecting ring member having .a, radially inwardly directed top flange,,said outer ring member hav-" ing a tubular body section of lesser inside diameter than the outside diameter of the bead on said nipple flange, said ring members clamping.

the top margins of the receptacle and the bead on the nipple between the same when the unitis in assembled relation.

3. A nursing unit comprising a flexible dispos able receptacle, a nursing nipple of resilient material and a pair of cooperating inner and outer,

ring members for clamping the nipple and the container in communicating relation, said inner ring member having an outer flange at the top, thereof over which the top margins of the con-j tainer are adapted to be outwardly folded, theouter periphery of said flange being of less diame.

eter than the internal diameter of said bead portion said nipple having a bead portion on the base thereof adapted to be moved into encircling: relation to said inner ring member and said outer\ ring member having aninnerflange portion at relation between the the top thereof, said outer ring member having a tubular-body portion of lesser diameter than the external diameter of said bead portion and being adapted to engage said bead portion and compress the same into clamping relation with the lower portion of the flange on said inner ring member whereby when said unit is assembled the top; margins of the container will be held in sealed'jrelation between the bead on said nipple and theflange on said inner ring member.

4. A-nursing unit as recited in claim 3 wherein the tubular body portion of said outer ring member comprises an edge portion provided with a downwardly and outwardly tapered inner surface for constricting said bead portion and placing the same under compression when said unit is assembled.

5. A nursing unit comprising a flexible disposable receptacle, a nursing nipple of resilient material having a flanged base thereon which terminates in a peripheral bead, and a pair of inner and outer clamping rings, said outer ring having inner wall portions of less diameter than the external diameter of said bead portion and being telescoped over said inner ring when said unit is assembled, the top margins of the receptacle being folded around the inner ring and said bead being clamped in compressed relation between the rings, the top margins of the receptacle being clamped by the compressed bead against the inner ring.

6. A- nursing unit comprising a flexible disposable receptacle, a nursing nipple of resilient material having an outwardly directed base flange which terminates in a peripheral bead, and a pair of inner and outer clamping rings, the outer clamping ring having inner wall portions of lesser diameter than the external diameter of said bead and being positioned in encircling relation to the inner ring when said unit is as- '7. A nursing unit comprising a flexible disposable receptacle, a nursing nipple of resilient material having a base flange which terminates in lesser diameter than the external diameter of said bead whereby when said unit is assembled with the top margins of the receptacle folded outwardly and downwardly over the inner ring and with the base flange of the nipple positioned on the top of the inner ring the outer ring is moved downwardly over the inner ring to con- Istrict the peripheral bead and place the same sembled, the top margins of the receptacle being a reversely folded out over the upper portion of the inner ring, the base flange of the nipple being stretched over the upper portion of the inner ring in clamping relation with the top margins of 4 in compressed clampingrelation with the margins of the receptacle and against the inner ring.

8. A nursing unit comprising a flexible disposable receptacle, a nursing nipple of resilient material having a base flange which terminates in a peripheral bead, and a pair of inner and outer connecting rings, said rings having radial flange portions extending in opposed relation which are of lesser diameter than the external diameter of said bead whereby when said unit is assembled with the top margins of the receptacle folded outwardly and downwardly over the inner ring and with the base flange of the nipple positioned on the top of the inner ring the outer ring is moved downwardly over the inner ring to stretch the base flange over the radial flange portion of the inner ring and place the same in tensioned clamping relation with the margins of the receptacle and against the radial flange portion of the inner ring.

- THOMAS E. PIAZZE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 985,328 Decker Feb. 28, 1911 2,110,928 De Buys .Mar. 15, 1938 2,446,451 Allen Aug. 3, 1948 2,448,569 Allen Sept. '7, 1948 

